This site provides updates on French bulldogs in our care, photos, news about our graduates, information about FBRN and information about keeping your Frenchie healthy and happy.

Sunday, February 24

Bringing Home a Baby

From the FBRN homepage, 2/22/13

Bringing Home Baby

(Kim Barnett is an FBRN volunteer, a dog trainer, and owner of
Follow My Lead USA. She wrote this article for Adopt A Boxer Rescue. We
are grateful for her permission to republish it here. Recently, we have
taken in quite a few Frenchies whose owners decided to have children,
but could not make the pairing of dog and kids work. We hope that
prospective parents will educate themselves on how to successfully
introduce a baby to the family, and how to raise their kids with a dog
in the house so more Frenchies can live out their lives with the people
they know and love.)
Several of my clients have asked for help in the preparation of
their dogs for the arrival of a baby or when problems have arisen after
bringing a new baby home from the hospital. Identifying any problem
areas or behavior issues and addressing them well ahead of time can make
for a stress free environment once the big day arrives. The main
consideration is that new babies bring home new smells, sounds and a
constant supply of visitors. Here are some key points to consider about
our dogs.1. Are they basically obedient; will they come, sit ( down is a bonus), stay and leave on command?
2. Are they well behaved when visitors arrive or become over excited, is there any guarding or protective behavior?
3. How does my dog react in general to babies and young children, and to what degree is that a concern? Once
identified, any issues can be worked on in good time with the help of a
trainer if needed. Think about basic routines that a new baby will need
and decide how your dogs will fit into this. If they can't fit in,
decide on a simple plan. For example, when you are feeding, changing
diapers, or bathing a baby, where will your dogs be and how will they
know how to behave appropriately? Training a dog to go into their crate
or bed to enjoy a treat or toy while these duties are carried out will
make for a much easier and stress-free time for all.
That said, a dog shouldn't be routinely shut away when challenges
occur or they cannot learn how to behave. Teach your dogs that they
cannot enter the baby's room without permission and that waiting on the
other side of the threshold with an open door is a way for them to feel
connected while everyone remains safe. Dogs that react to cries and
screams can be desensitized using training CDs.Once
baby is born it's a good idea to bring home a blanket or diaper with
their scent on it and introduce those smells to the dogs, insisting that
they leave the items. Dogs should never be allowed to pick up and play
with any item that has a baby's scent on and should be encouraged to
respect a baby's personal space. Inviting your dog to sit or lie beside
your baby should only take place if you feel that you have complete
control, your dog is comfortable in all situations around the baby, and
you are holding the baby at all times. Finally make sure that there is a
plan to continue your dog's daily exercise routine. Having someone help
with this for the first few weeks can keep your dog feeling fulfilled
and not suffering from pent up energy. Many new parents call on friends
to supply meals for the first few weeks; consider asking friends to drop
by to exercise the dog. Professional dog-walkers or neighborhood kids
can be hired to walk your dog until you are able to work out the
schedule that works best for you.A
little basic training and establishing a routine for the whole family
while creating positive associations between our dogs and new family
members can set the foundation for the wonderful relationship they'll
share in the future.
In the coming months, we'll write about managing toddlers and dogs;
when babies become mobile, there are different concerns to be
negotiated .